“Other areas of the UK could see some snow as the band of rain, sleet and snow transfers southwards, with perhaps some small amounts of settling snow over high ground,” a spokesman said.

“The combination of rain, sleet and snow and dropping temperatures will also lead to a risk of ice in places, particularly over high level routes on Saturday morning.”

Central and southern parts of England could also see hail and the possibility of some sleet during the night.

Temperatures tonight could fall to freezing in the south, with the possibility of minus 3C in the north, but the freezing winds will make it feel much colder, Mr Penston warned.

Tomorrow, Sunday, much of the UK will see plenty of sunshine, with temperatures between 3C and 7C, but icy winds will make it feel much colder and freezing overnight temperatures will lead to frosts and icy patches.

Mr Penston added: “Winds will ease over the course of tomorrow morning and into the afternoon, and the risk of showers will be confined to eastern and western coasts, with central areas seeing drier conditions.

“But it will be very cold again tomorrow night, with a risk of icy stretches on the roads. Minimum temperatures across much of Britain will be minus 2C or minus 3C.”

Frank Saunders, the Met Office’s chief operational meteorologist, added: “The Met Office is forecasting strong winds and some snow for this weekend which means there is the likelihood of some difficult driving conditions and possible disruption to transport.

“With this in mind, if you have travel plans over the weekend, we’d advise that you keep an eye on the forecast and warnings for your area.”

The cold snap is expected to be short-lived, with warmer weather returning next week, though it is expected to be unsettled.

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